Diwan land secured for new Cow Bay health clinic in Daintree
Land has been secured to pave the way for a new health clinic in one of the worst ex-Cyclone Jasper disaster zones.
Cairns
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A desperately-needed new health clinic in the Daintree has taken a step forward after the transfer of land between two tiers of government.
The Douglas Shire Council has sold a 10,000sq m property in Diwan that is earmarked to become home to the new Cow Bay primary health care centre.
Tenders for the new centre’s build also closed on Friday, with construction expected to begin later this year.
The public clinic was originally planned to be complete by November 2024 but that forecast has since been pushed out to early next year.
Earlier this month the Cairns Post revealed how some Cape Tribulation residents could not access medical services for two months following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
The new clinic is set to include a helicopter landing pad and staff accommodation, designed to help retain staff at the health facility.
Cow Bay primary health centre director of nursing Michele Lamond said it was “the best thing to ever happen to this community”.
“Everyone is talking about it, the whole community is excited,” she said.
“The new centre will be delivered from a much more comfortable, larger and more modern facility that is wheelchair friendly.
“We will continue to offer the same healthcare services to residents, but from a much nicer space with all the conveniences.”
Cook MP Cynthia Lui said the new centre would provide for generations to come.
“The original timber council building will be replaced with a modern fit-for-purpose health
clinic,” she said.
“The new centre will include improved clinical spaces for visiting specialised staff, as well as providing better facilities to respond in health emergencies while a patient is awaiting helicopter retrieval.”
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Originally published as Diwan land secured for new Cow Bay health clinic in Daintree
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